The Nigeria police, Monday attributed delayed payment of salaries to policemen to the delay in the passage of the 2018 budget.

This is just as the Presidency summoned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Idris, to explain reasons behind purported protest by angry policemen in Maiduguri over non payment of salaries.

According to a statement by the police headquarters “the delay in payment is due to late passage of the budget, adding that with its assent by President Buhari, the issue will soon be addressed.

This is after it had dismissed news reports that there was indeed a protest.

“The Police in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, dismissed the media report, claiming that the policemen only made inquiries on their allowances and salaries before returning to their duty posts.

This however negates the IGP’s visit to the villa on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IGP was seen heading towards the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A source at the Presidential Villa, who preferred to remain anonymous told NAN that the IGP was in the villa to brief the presidency on the police protest.

The police personnel were said to have protested over non-payment of their monthly salaries and allowances.